The general business climate index for the agricultural machinery industry in Europe has continued to decline after entering negative territory for the first time since its upturn a year ago. In April 2026, the index decreased from -2 points to -6 points (on a scale of -100 to +100).
Following the downward adjustment of turnover expectations for the coming six months, current business now appears to be affected as well.
In addition, expectations regarding future orders have fallen to their lowest level in many months. Meanwhile, one-third of European manufacturers expect less orders in the coming six months, and only 20% anticipate an increase.
The strongest deterioration is seen in the arable equipment segment, which now shows the worst business climate among all segments. By contrast, the business climate for livestock equipment has improved significantly again and ranks far above average in the segment comparison.
